Cape Town's Walking Township Tour with a White African Brother

This is a great township tour, honest in its approach of the present, future and character of the people of Imizamo Yethu

Experience a one of a kind interactive township tour of Cape Town’s Imizamo Yethu Township near Houtbay with a special person, a guide who knows the townships of Cape Town like few others.

You will be picked up by Craig, an impressive, witty and driven (white) South African ex soccer player, who not only has great knowledge about township life but also speaks isiXhosa.

The thing that makes this tour so unique (and why we think this is one of the best township tours in Imizamo Yethu) is Craig and Siphiwe’s ability to make you feel like you are being showed around the township by a good friend, instead of just a normal tour guide.

The walking tour in this young township is about growth and inspiration. About sharing experiences and learning from each other. About their experiences before, during and after apartheid and how your presence helps the people of Imizamo Yethu express their cultural identity.

Included in the tour of Imizamo Yethuis a visit to a Sangoma (traditional healer), where you will get great insight into how traditional medicine is mixed and used.

Sangomas believe that they are able to access advice and guidance from their ancestors for their patients in three ways: through possession by an ancestor, by throwing bones and through interpretation of dreams. Eish.

A visit to one of the township’s traditional African beer makers will give you the opportunity to taste Umqombothi (African beer), which is drunk from a calabash. Traditionally ladies drink from the calabash while kneeling down on a rug. Umqombothi is very rich in vitamin B and is made from mielie meal (maize), yeast, malt and water.

This is not everyone’s cup of tea (so to speak) and has a very distinct taste, but African people love it. Be warned though…it takes some time before the alcohol has an effect, so don’t overdo it. Awu!

The Walking Township Tour takes you to the Imizamo Yethu community centre where you can see people making mosaics and unique African dolls amongst other things and you can support them by buying some of their artwork and crafts. Kugrand!

A visit to a pre-school is an awesome experience because you get to play with and talk to the children. In the past children used to be too scared and shy to talk to tourists, but today they love seeing tourists and enjoy interacting and talking to them. The unique thing about this tour is that it is an interactive learning experience with Craig’s sense of humour and Siphiwe’s insight and knowledge of township life.

Learn all about the Xhosa and Zulu traditions and even learn to speak some basic Xhosa lingo. Do you know what the word “Mlungu” means? You will after the tour

Guests to the township are encouraged to take photographs, but on condition that they print out an additional set of the originals and as a gift to the community. This is seen as a great gesture of good-will and also helps create a legacy for the people of Imizamo Yethu Township.

The Township tour with Craig has been adopted by us since he has been involved with Walking Township Tours in 1996.

This unique township walking tour starts between 8.30 and 9.00 and costs R300. The tour must have a minimum of 4 people.

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